Every few years we do a flush count at the Refuge to try to get a better idea of how many ducks and geese are concealed in the vegetation in the Main Pool.  It was planned for yesterday.  A few extra watchers and recorders were on hand, and the airboat was serviced and ready to go.  However, it didn’t get off the ground (or into the water) because there was not enough water in the Main Pool to float the boat!!  Ooops!  When I asked why the water level was so low I was told, “beavers!!” It seems those busy, eager, pesky beavers have been working diligently at night and have clogged up several water control structures preventing water from adequately flowing into the Main Pool.  Those RASCALS!!   Anyway, my group was stationed at the deer check station and we didn’t really need the air boat because we had plenty of action due to an adult bald eagle then a northern harrier flying by kicking up the ducks!!  Maybe in a couple of weeks we can try again.  Keep your fingers crossed!

     Pete and I surveyed the Main Pool before the planned flush count and found a good variety of ducks.  Afterwards we surveyed the Sandhill Crane Unit and Tschache Pool.  The Crane Unit and Tschache had small numbers of birds. But, Saturday, November 5 is the last day of the first duck hunting spilt.  The numbers should pick up again.  The second split starts on November 26 and goes until the end of the year.  We did see a very late in the season osprey at Tschache Pool. Sorry, couldn’t get a pic.

     Again, as a reminder, as of Saturday (Oct 15), waterfowl hunting is allowed in Tschache Pool and the Sandhill Crane Unit (and Unit 17 and Kipp Island units) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through November 5 and again on November 26 through January 1, 2023. Turkey hunting ended October 28. Early bowhunting opened on October 1 and goes through November 18. Please be extra careful, especially when driving, as deer will be on the move, perhaps running and not paying attention to roads and vehicles.  So, sometimes you may see people on the dikes in some of our units.  They may be hunters and have permission to be there. The Esker Brook and South Spring Pool Trails are now closed to hiking. The Seneca Trail currently is available for hiking and closed to hunting.

     If you are interested in exploring Northern Montezuma here is a statement from the DEC:

“Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area provides excellent opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation year-round. However, birders and other recreationists should be aware that there will be a higher amount of hunting activity on the area on the opening weekend of the regular deer hunting season, which starts November 19th, 2022. Visitors can choose to wear fluorescent orange clothing during open hunting seasons while taking advantage of all the wonderful recreational opportunities the WMA has to offer.”

     For our survey on Friday, it was pleasant yet breezy.  I’m including a couple of pictures that show teasel and other vegetation covered with cattail fluff.  It was so thick in the air it looked like snow blowing in the wind. The other pics are another bald eagle nest that survived our summer weather, a bird nest tucked into a tree, a great egret, a bald eagle looking like it is molting into adult plumage, a pic showing the lovely blue sky reflected on the water at Tschache Pool and a picture of cranes with gulls in the foreground. The two larger gulls are herring gulls with pinkish legs and the smaller ones with yellow legs are ring-billed gulls. Hopefully, you can get out to explore and experience our magical migration and the wonderful wildlife at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Refuge Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

     ENJOY, be respectful and safe.